Casing for lamp-sockets or the like.



C. J. KLEIN. CASING FOR LAMP SOCKETS OR THE LIKE.

Patented May 29, 1917.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.8, I913.

' -clearly understood I have illustrated certain UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES J'. KLEIN, 0F MILWAUKEE WISCONSIN A SSIGNOR TO THE CUTLER-HAMMER MFG. CO., OF MILWAUKEE. WISCONSIN.

A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

CASING FOR LAMP-SOCKETS OR THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 29, 1917.

Application filed December 8, 1913. Serial No. 805,290.

To'all whom it may concern I Be it known that I, Ci-munns J. KLEIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, inthe county ot Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in' Casings for Lamp- Sockets or the like, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to casings for lamp sockets, pendent switches and the like. One of the objects of the invention is to provide improved interlocking. means for the sections of such casings which may be released by compression of the outer section to eXpandthe same. at the points of interlook.

In order that my invention may bemore embodiments thereof in the accompanying drawings. The forms shown, however, have been chosen as exemplary of my invention and may be modified in certain respects Without'departure from the scope of the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a lamp socket casing showing the parts separated;

Fig; 2 is a similar view of a modified form of casingyand', Y 7

Figs. "3, 4:, 5, and .t'rare perspective views of additional modifications of the casing, the shell in each case being partially broken away.

Eachof the casings illustrated comprises a-cap 1 and a resilient shell 2 designed to house a swltch' mechanism or other device.

Interlocking means are provided on the overlapping margins of the sections for'releasably securingthe sametogether. In the preferred form this interlocking means comprises catches 3 on one section and coiiperatingshoulders 4 Qnthe'ot-her. In practice, two sets of interlocking means are employed at diametrically opposite points of the easing.- in such a mannerthat thesecti'onsmay be released for separation by compression of the outer member, that is the shell, to expand the same at the. points of interlock,

Referring now to Fig.1, the cap 1 is pro vided with a bead 5 which merges at the transverse ledge 6 into a circular depending rim 7. The shoulders 4 are'provided in the rim 7 and preferably immediately adjacent desired, the ed e of the the ledge 6. iVhile the shoulders 4 are shown as comprising apertures, it is to be understood that the same may be formed in portions substantially-equal to the easterior dlanieter of "the cap through the rim 7 so that thesections are. held concentrically when attached and a slight radial clearance is provided between the edge of the' shell, other than the portions 8, and the cap rim. This clearance is prdfided for .a purpose hereinafter set forth anii is preferably at least equal to the radial length of the catches 3. These catches my be of any suitable form, tlitise' illustrated being of the type described and "claimed in my copending application, filed Oct. 28, 1913, Serial No, 797,871. In this form, each catch comprises a substantially triangular portion of the shelliwall at its edge crimped inwardly to form a bearing surface and reinforcing side walls, the latter being inher ently beveled toward the cap. Slots 9 to receive the switch operating member may be "provided. in opposite sides of the shell 'mar gin and at right angles to the catches '3. If g shell may be in turned slightly, as at 10.

The cap and shell may be telcscoped to-' gether inthe conventional manner, the shell, however, encircles the ,cap rim 7, as described. In assembly, the interlocking means are first aliued and the sections of the casing then pushed together. the latter operation the shell assumes an elliptical. shape until the catches 3 slip over the cap vrim 7 and register with the apertures 4, whereupon the shell resume-s its cylindrical form as the catches snap into the apertures- The bearing surfaces of the During catches thereupon coact with the shoulders 4' to lock-the sections. against both axial separation and relative rotation. The shell margin at the same time abuts the led e 6 of the cap to prevent relative rocking of the parts.

Separation of the cap and shell may be this embodiment, however, the cap rim is provided on opposite sides with distended portions 11 in which the shoulders 4 are located. The margin of the shell is circular and of a diameter approximately equal to.

the exterior diameter of the cap through the portions 11. The catches 3 are provided on the shell, and are similar to those previously described. The method of uniting and separating the sections of the casing when thus formed is the same as that described in connection with the casing shown in Fig. 1.

F ig s. 3, 5, and 6 illustrate casings having overlapping portions and abutting edges. As in the casings of Figs. 1 and 2, interlocking means for the sections are provided on the over] appinc portions thereof. The cap 1 0? Fig. 3 is provided with a transverse marginal flange 12 and oppositely disposed depending tongues 13. The catches 3 in this embodiment are carried by the tongues 13 while the shoulders 4 are vided in opposite sides of the cylindrical shell 2. Assembly of the sections is accomplished by telescoping the parts ogether, while separation thereof is readily efiectible by compression of the shell toexpand the same at the interlocking points. The in- .turned edge 10 of the shell is especially advantageous in this embodiment (and certain of the others) inasmuch as pockets 14 are thus provided to receive the tongues 13'.

. Fig. 4 shows a casing for keyless" sockets in which the margin of the shell is unbroken.

In this embodiment the sections are substantially similar to the casing shown in Fig. 3, except that the shoulders 4 are provided in the depending tongues 13 and the catches 3 are' located on corresponding portions of the shell margin. Assembly and separation of the sections is accomplished in the manner set forth in connection with the casing of Fig. 3.

The depending tongue 13 of thecap shown in Fig. 5 is substantially semi-circular and provided with two of the catches 3 on its curved edges, disposed at opposite angles of approximately 45 to the cap flange 12.

p The shell 2 designed for use with this cap isprovided with two pairs of the shoulders 4 on opposite sides and also inclined at opangles of approximately 459m the proshell margin. Attachment and separation of the parts remains similar to that already described. The two pairs of. interlocking means in this embodiment materially increases the effectiveness of the interlock between the two sections without increasing the manufacturing cost.

In the form shown in Fig. 6 two substalr tially rectangular tongues 13 are provided on opposite sides of the cap and a pair of shoulders 4 provided in the tongue at opposite angles of approximately 45 to the cap rim. The shell in this embodiment carries a pair of the catches 3 at the corners of the oppositely disposed key-slots 9, so that the interlocking means for the sections are provided adjacent the operating member of the switch. Accessibility of the shell to com. press the same to release the interlock is thus facilitated.

Guide notches 15 may be provided in the edge of each section carrying the shoulders i to facilitate assembly of the parts.

\Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is? r 1. A casing for lamp sockets comprising separable sections having overlapping portions provided'with interlocking means engageable by contraction of one of said sections about the other and releasableby contraction of one of said sections at ti-point remote from said means with a resulting expansion of said section adjacent said means.

2. A casing for lamp sockets comprising separable sections having interlocking means-therefor, one of said sections being relatively rigid, the other 'said section being resilient and contracti-ble, independently of said first mentioned section, at a point remote from said interlocking means, with a resultantexpansion adjacent to said means, and said means being'releasable by such ex-- pansion of said resilient section.

3. Amusing for'lamp sockets comprising a cap and shell of. unequal 'diameters,-and cooperating shoulders carried thereby for look ing said parts together, said parts having radial clearance at a point removed from said shoulders whereby the latter may be released by compression of said art of greater diameter at said point o radial clearance.

4. A casing for lamp sockets comprising sections having interfitting marginal portions, and interlocking means for the sec-.

' tions comprising a catch on one and a shoulder onthe other, the outer sectionbeing resilient and having radial playwith respect to the inner section at substantially right angles to the interlocking means whereby said section may be compressed at substantially right angles to said means to expand the same at said means. 5. A casing forlamp sockets oomprisin a cap and shell having interfittingmarginafi portions, certain portions of said shell being held against radial eo npression by at, right hangiesibsaid means.

- said ca? and shell together,

7. In combination; a cap having a depending tongue, a resilient shell adapted to overlap saidtongue, and cooperatin shoulders on said tongue'and said shell $01 locking inward y yieldable at points removed from said shoulders to release the latter.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto, subscribed my name in the presence of two" witnesses.

7 CHARLES J. KLEIN. W'itnesses L. A. VVATsoN,

H. HUBBARD.

Copies of this "kit may 14 obtained-tot five-cents each, bjeddreising the Commissionerofjatents;

Washington, 1). c. I

said shell being 

